Bowden on playing USF: 'That could happen'

Chances are Bobby Bowden won't be coaching at Florida State if it ever happens, but the Seminoles coach said Friday that the struggling economy could lead to FSU playing more nonconference games closer to home, and USF could be a possibility along those lines.

"I think eventually, that could happen," Bowden said. "Yes, (gas prices) could change that. Whether it will, I don't know, but it could, sure could. ... You usually try to find somebody that you've got a chance to win, instead of getting your nose bloodied."

FSU is the lone state program that hasn't scheduled USF, with Miami lined up for home-and-home series through 2013 and Florida playing host to the Bulls in 2010 and 2015. Bowden was initially asked about playing Florida Atlantic, allowing him and former Miami coach Howard Schnellenberger a chance to face off again.

"The only reason you ever hesitate to play somebody like that is you build up their credibility," Bowden said, speaking about FAU. "That's why (West Virginia) didn't want to play (Marshall), that's why people kind of go slow picking up somebody. You build their credibility. You don't want them to have that yet."

Bowden said FSU "would be receptive" to playing FAU. "I think you're going to see more of that, because of gas costs," Bowden said. "Why play Oregon when you can be playing Central, I mean, FAU, because of gas and everything. I think you're going to start seeing more of that."

Comments

[Mike Lakeland]

Nice! I would love to play the 'Noles, even if that meant USF taking a 2-for-1.

We need to play the entire "Big 3" for any sort of bragging rights.

[Ari Hinkelberger]

What a load of crap. He is going to play USF because of "Gas Prices."

HA!. Give me a freakin break. Dude doesn't want to play us. I understand though. But don't tell me USF might be an option because of "Gas Prices."

The FSU football budget is about as tight as Canday on Nebraska Ave at 2 a.m.

GAS PRICES?? Fly me to the moon Bobby.

[AT]

If thats why they want to save money on gas prices, they can go to hell. Let them fly and play West Central Northeast Michigan Tech.

[J]

Well, at least he gave his true reason why it hasn't happened yet...

"You usually try to find somebody that you've got a chance to win, instead of getting your nose bloodied."

[Jim]

His program is already in a tailspin do you think he needs more screaming from his Alumni.

[Tim]

Let's not get ahead of ourselves. I am a USF season ticketholder, but lets see if they can compete with Miami first before you start accusing teams of not wanting to play them. Remember, FSU plays both Miami AND Florida every year. Now, that is a tough out of conference schedule.

[Miles Lamoureux]

Tim,

You would be right except for the fact that Miami IS a member of the ACC. FSU plays quite frankly a very weak OOC schedule in my opinion. Check those first 2 games they have this year.

[Ari Hinkelberger]

The guy tried to link Gas Prices with FSU playing USF.

HA HA!

I have heard some serious wise tails in my time, but the price of a gallon of unleaded and FSU wanting to play USF in football might be the stupidest thing I have ever heard.

Come on Bobby!

[G.A.]

I'm pretty sure El Nino is also involved somehow.

[bullswho]

Until you beat a big three keep your mouth shut. FSU, UF, and UM all have titles. Yes USF has not been around as long and yes they are getting better but you guys are stupid thinking you are better than the NOLES. Keep drinking that Green Kool-Aid and we will see who is ranked higher come December.

[Mike Lakeland]

FSU/USF

The Palindrome Bowl

(copyright) 2008 crambone

[greg budzban]

The Palindrome Bowl! Ha!

That's an instant classic, Mike.

[Eric]

Boy, win 9 games a couple of times and the arrogance flows freely. Hard to throw stones at another team's schedule when you play the likes of Tennessee-Martin, FIU, FAU, Elon, McNeese State, FAMU, etc.

[Bull Daly]

Eric,

That is because teams like FSU and Georgia dont want to play USF for fear of losing. They having everything to lose while USF would gain so much if they knocked them off. I believe USF will meet UF and FSU down the road in BCS match-ups.

[Tad]

Awesome blog Greg!!

This just in, USF signs the consensus #1 rated high school recruit. In reaction, Scout immediately downgrades him to a 2 star and Rivals makes him a 3 star. No word as to how far he will fall on ESPN board as they've already downgraded three USF top 150 watch list players and that isn't even a rating list. That is all for now....

[Herman Momart]

Hilarious when Ari talks to himself. Its like him thinking out loud. H posted the same message an hour and a half later. Pretty funny, guy!

[Tarheel Blue > Miami Canes]

Eric,

You forgot to include UCF in the list of pansies you put up there.

[Pat]

The Bulls have one great season, and they are kings of the world huh? Try winning a big bowl someday, FSU will be back with in a year. I went to both schools and go to both of their games. Give me a break, most Bull fans were never at Ray Jay til this past season. Bandwagon jumpers.

most bull fans are pretty realistic, we need to win some conference titles and bcs games to take that next step. it's nice to compare ourselves in terms of the big 4, but getting to bcs bowls and winning them should be our ultimate goal.

[JoeB]

Not sure if USF can have 'bandwagon' jumpers since there never was one to begin with. We've been playing football for 12 years, so we're bound to get more and more every year simply by ecomonics.

[Ari Hinkelberger]

YO GREG!!!

I just drove down Fletcher Ave and the price of a gallon of gas was 3.85..

I wonder if Bobby Bowden is still thinking USF is a possibility.

Never in my life have a heard a college football coach link gas prices and a home and home series.

That is a first Bobby.

[Bull Daly]

The point is that UM, UF, and FSU have all done great things that USF is hoping that they can soon do. As a USF fan, I have nothing but respect for those programs. I just get pretty turned off by some of their arrogant fans that always talk down to USF fans. FSU got respect from winning on the road against good traditional powers. Kind of like USF did when the Bulls beat Auburn last year. USF is on their way though, so I am very happy to be a USF fan to say the least.

[Sailingbull]

Wow Turdheel, what's the count now? 0-2 I Bull-ieve! If UNC cares for any future a** whoopins' I'm sure Leavitt and the boys would be happy to oblige... maybe Eric should add UNC to that list of pansies!

USF has faced nothing but opposition and consternation in scheduling the old school "big boys" of the sunshine state. They have been regularly snubbed by the clown college of Tallahassee, and almost insulted by the rednecks of Gainseville... but it has not stopped them from going to places like Oklahoma, Arkansas, Auburn, Miami, Penn State, Alabama, Pittsburgh (pre-conference) etc.

As for attitude, you have to expect this type of reaction from USF fans. Enough allready of the underhanded comments outta Bobby Bowden. We've taken more jabs from that adult-diaper wearing buffoon. Maybe he is trying to deflect attention from his loss of control. It took a booster mutiny to get rid of his son (and ultimately name Bobby's successor). How many of his starters were suspended for cheating? To assume FSU will bounce back anytime soon is wishful thinking. I doubt the villagers will tolerate another 5+ loss season... and I highly doubt Bobby will go quitely when the hammer falls.

Bowden may go down as both the father and killer of the FSU program.

[Ken]

Mike Lakeland, that's great. You got to let Greg use it, though, if it should ever come to pass. Can't you see the headline in the SPT: "USF-FSU in Palindrome Bowl!"

Maybe to save gas, we could have all the games be virtual. Are any of you old enough to remember the Star Wars episode with the virtual war, only they had to make the casualties real, so each side had to execute the right number of its own people after each battle?

[G.A.]

OK guys. At the risk of total dorkdom, wondering if you guys can figure out other matchups that would be palindromes. I can think of one combination, both I-A schools. One isn't necessarily known by its initials on a regular basis. I'm sure there are others ... c'mon now, play along ...

[G.A.]

OK, found another one, though technically they don't have a football team yet ...

[G.A.]

Another! An in-state game!

[gary]

isn't auburn and alabama au vs ua?

[gary]

colorado state vs southern cal or south carolina

[gary]

ohio u vs u of oregon, clemson vs colorado.

[gary]

southern miss v miss state

[G.A.]

Gary's got a bunch. Was thinking of Arizona State vs. South Alabama in a few years ...

[Brendan]

SI.com just uploaded a nice article about the Bulls and their recruiting in Florida on the College Football page. Just a heads up.

[Ari Hinkelberger]

Didn't Andy Staples cover the Gators for the Tribune??

Are you going to leave us Greg for the big city??

Say it aint so.

[Ari Hinkelberger]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/ncaa/

[TJ]

kansas vs kentucky (ku vs uk)

[Ari Hinkelberger]

Greg,
You should do an article on some of the featured non-coonference games by our Big East foes.

You got West Va playing Aurburn at home.
You have Cincinatti going on the road to play Oklahoma.
You got USF playing a Kansas team that smoked Va Tech in the Orange bowl

[USFMikeB]

Gotta love how Bowden admits that he doesn't want to play USF because he would prefer to play weaker teams, and then FSU fans retort by saying that FSU is greater than USF simply because of their history.

Hey, FSU fans, why is Bobby afraid of USF? Perhaps it is because your history has nothing to do with your present team on the field? Why is it that your coach understands that, but your fans don't?

[Dave W]

It may not be Bobby that is afraid of us. T.K. can't be happy that we're academically very similar (according to entrance stats). Our med school is more prestigious, too (I don't say better, because that isn't quantifiable, but reputation is). At least Miami has the guts to take us on. If they whoop us, then they have a really easy sell to recruits who have both us and UM on their lists. If they are so much better, then they should prove it. Just like we already have with UCF! Give us a chance and see if you really are better than us, FSU! (I included the UCF part just to head off any argument. They've had a fair shot at us, and failed miserably. They get one last chance, so I expect them to be pretty up for the game).

I like the Staples article, and in general, he's one of the best major outlet writers.

Oh, and how exactly will FSU be back with Drew Weatherford at QB? Isn't he part of the problem? To me, their problem was a stagnation on offense caused by a refusal to catch up with modern times (a la Penn State). The Jimbo Fisher hire didn't look so hot last season, but I would give him a lot more time to implement his system with a competent QB (and they probably have one in Ponder or Manuel). But their revival won't have a negative impact on us- there are plenty of players to go around.

[Mike Lakeland]

I, Mike Lakeland (aka crambone), do hereby give Gregory Auman (aka Best Beat Writer EVER) full and unrestricted permission to use my copyrighted term "The Palindrome Bowl".

signed Mike Lakeland
witness Mrs. Mike Lakeland

[Sanjay]

There's a Mrs. Crambone? Yikes.

[G.A.]

I don't know. She types just like Mr. Crambone ...

[Mike Lakeland]

Yes, there is another Crambone. I managed to con some chick into living with me AND giving me half of her schtuff. Pretty neato, eh?

[steve oneal]

Only half her stuff? That's average at best.

[Andy]

Bobby had USF ranked higher than any other coach in the nation. (before the Oregon disaster)

[DELdaBULL]

That is because he thought he was voting for FSU. He is senile, don't you know.